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Saturday, 15 September 2012

Anti-U.S.protest continue in Muslim world over film

A protestor sets a police vehicle on
fire during clashes with riot police forces which fired tear gas and rubber
bullets at them near the U.S. embassy near Cairo's Tahrir square in Egypt. At
least 224 people were injured in clashes in front of the U.S. embassy in the
Egyptian capital of Cairo in protest against the movie that the Muslim
community deems insulting to Prophet Mohammed. (Xinhua/Amru Salahuddien)

BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- A new wave of protests and assaults against
U.S. diplomatic missions erupted in the Muslim world after Friday prayers, when
people continued to vent their anger over an American film that was deemed an
insult to Prophet Mohammed.
In central Cairo, clashes continued around the U.S. embassy with hundreds of
protesters hurling stones to the police. The Health Ministry said 27 people
were injured, bringing the toll to 251 since protests erupted Tuesday.
The police have arrested 94 protesters and used teargas to disperse those
surrounding the embassy, according to state TV.
Several Coptic movements also participated in the protests in central
Cairo's Tahrir Square, carrying banners asking for criminalizing the acts of
offending religions.
Protests also spread to the U.S. consulate in Alexandria and the
headquarters of international peacekeeping force in north Sinai.
At least four peacekeepers were injured when gunmen attacked the
headquarters of the international peacekeeping force, a peacekeeping official
told Xinhua.
Peacekeepers and militant protesters exchanged fire and protesters set one
car and the camp's monitoring tower ablaze.
In Tunis, at least three protesters were killed in clashes, after a massive
demonstration outside the U.S. embassy in the country, the official TAP news
agency said.
Meanwhile, TAP said some 20 people were injured in the clashes between
security forces and protesters.
Some protesters managed to climb over a wall into the embassy and set a lot
of cars ablaze. Heavy smoke was seen above the embassy, and security forces
were seen firing rubber bullets and using teargas to disperse the crowd.
Ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scene to rescue the injured and
put out the fire.
Some of the protesters, who gathered after the Friday prayers, told Xinhua
that they want to force the U.S. ambassador to Tunisia to come out and demand
the release of the demonstrators who were arrested earlier.
Meanwhile, local witnesses said another group of angry youngsters also set
ablaze an American school which is close to the U.S. embassy in Tunis, causing
heavy property damage.
In Lebanon's northern port city of Tripoli, at least one person was killed
and 25 others injured in clashes between angry youngsters and security forces.
Protesters in front of a KFC restaurant hurled stones at security forces and
set the restaurant on fire, the National News Agency reported.
A number of worshipers also gathered in Tripoli after Friday prayers, waving
black flags and calling to expel the U.S. ambassador to Lebanon.
Similar rallies were also held in Lebanon's cities of Taalabaya and Zahle
following the prayers.
In the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, at least three people were killed as
protesters tried to gain access to the U.S. embassy there.
The three dead were reportedly all protesters who were hit by a police
vehicle as they attempted to force their way into the U.S. embassy.
Witnesses said nearly 10,000 protesters were heading to the U.S. embassy,
which had already been heavily guarded by Sudanese troops and police. Some U.S.
Marine soldiers were also seen protecting the embassy building.
On Friday, protests also hit Iran, Jordan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Barack Obama vowed to "stand fast"
against the recent wave of violence targeting American diplomatic missions.
Addressing a home-coming ceremony held at the Andrews Air Force Base near
Washington D.C. for the remains of four Americans killed on Tuesday night in
the Libyan city of Benghazi, the solemn-faced president said: "Their
sacrifice will never be forgotten. We will bring to justice those who took them
from us."
"We will stand fast against the violence on our diplomatic
missions," he added, pledging to "continue to do everything in our
power" to protect Americans serving overseas.(Xinhua)